The detrimental effects of sleep apnea and the changes once on CPAP continue to amaze me.  A little background first regarding my latest discovery.  Sound is my business.  I design audio amplifiers, and processors and although I use instrumentation to verify the design, I frequently listen to the fruits of my labor.  I also have a large home theater, and music system in my home which I enjoy listening to . About 3 years ago, I noticed that mid to high frequencies had a sharp hollow ring to them to the point where it was actually painful.  I consulted with other colleagues, both young as well as my age, and they told me that they were not experiencing the same effect.  I did not seek medical advice about my change in hearing because I had been attributing all of my strange medical events to aging.

About 6-8 weeks after starting CPAP treatment, I began to noticed the hollow ringing effect was being replaced by a slight buzzing effect while listening to to loud, or high frequency sounds.  At first I was a little concerned but this has gradually disappeared along with the ringing.  When I visited my DJ son over the holidays, he tried out some new dance mixes on me at his usually high decibel levels, and I noticed that I could actually listen to it where before I had to cover my ears because of the severe ringing.

So this brings me to my question as to whether anyone else has experienced  similar adverse changes in hearing that have disappeared with CPAP therapy?



Last edited by NoseHose on Tue Nov 27, 2007 4:10 pm; edited 4 times in total
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My life was restarted on June 29th, 2007

59 yr. male
pre-CPAP apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 64
ResMed S8 Escape w/humidifier
ResMed Mirage Swift II nasal pillows system
Prescribed for a 6 but I like to fool with things, and prefer 7

my CPAP made no difference to my hearing problems, hearing loss and tinnitus


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respironics comfort gell mask,resmed S6 lightweight CPAP, pressure 10 no humidifier
NO DOCTOR EVER ASKED ME IF I SNORED

G'day NoseHose,

I also rely on my ability to hear, albeit more on a hobby level. I am a self-taught home-recordist/audio engineer/musician. I had been on CPAP for a couple of years, then "took a break" for a couple of years (not a good idea btw... it's way way better to stay on). During my initial years of use, I was concerned that the + pressure from my CPAP would adversely affect my inner ears and hearing. Also the cummulitve affect of the hissing noise from my mask's exhaust port (not a lot of dbs, but constant) worried me as well. I had a chance to have my hearing tested about a year into my CPAP treatment, and much to my relief my hearing checked out ok.

Towards the end of my CPAP "break", when my symptoms came back with a real vengeance, I started to notice some pretty loud tinnitus that I don't remember having before. I chalked it up to being one of the many symptoms of major sleep/deficit/deprivation. I have been gratefully back on my machine for almost three weeks now and am starting to feel much more rested... but I still have the tinnitus. I am not sure if it actually has anything to do with OSA or not (and I don't monitor at nor play/rehearse at loud levels). I am hoping that it will eventually clear up after I have been back on the hose for a month or two.

BTW.. I think it's pretty cool that you design audio amps. I am always in awe of the folks that actually design/make the gear I like to play with  

Have you ever designed mic pres or other studio gear?


_________________
Diagnosed with OSA in 2003
Prescribed pressure of 14 cm/h20
Using Respironics Remstar Pro with C-flex and Heated Humidifier,
with Respironics Comfort Classic nasal mask

- It's a process, not an event... and it gets better every day -

It's good to hear you're back on the mask again.  I hope you experience an improvement with your tinnitus.  My hearing condition prior to CPAP was really bothering me.  It wasn't hearing loss, but this hollow, ringing, almost tearing effect to loud and/or especially high frequencies.  It made listening to music as well as evaluating equipment extremely difficult.  I am now once again enjoying fairly good hearing for a guy my age, and who for many years ago stood for hours in front of large stacks of speaker cabinets as a bass player for a working band.

I haven't done much in the way of studio gear aside from a small mixer made by ATI, done years ago as a part time consultant while working full time at a military subcontractor.  Tired after 18 years of doing the same old same old, I had an opportunity to do some fun stuff, so I pulled up stakes and started designing processor/amps for the automotive OEM applications.  Its a real kick in the pants to see and hear "my" amp ordered as an option in my personal vehicle.  The entire system is a team effort, but the amp is my baby, and it's so far it's been a lot of fun.  Hope it lasts!


_________________
My life was restarted on June 29th, 2007

59 yr. male
pre-CPAP apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 64
ResMed S8 Escape w/humidifier
ResMed Mirage Swift II nasal pillows system
Prescribed for a 6 but I like to fool with things, and prefer 7

Very very cool NoseHose   

I'm a bass player also! Though I also dabble on guitar, mandolin, and fader-pushin'/knob-twistin' Strictly weekend warrier stuff... just a hobby to while away the long winter days here. We play mostly reggae, blues, and classic rock stuff. Paying gigs maybe three or four times a year kinda thing. Always fun  

I hope it all lasts for you too!! Life's too darn short to be stuck doin' stuff that don't make ya' happy. I'll be sure to keep my ear perked next time a new vehicle goes by with the tunes blastin'... just in case I get a chance to hear the fruits of yer' labour.  

Very cool bro'


_________________
Diagnosed with OSA in 2003
Prescribed pressure of 14 cm/h20
Using Respironics Remstar Pro with C-flex and Heated Humidifier,
with Respironics Comfort Classic nasal mask

- It's a process, not an event... and it gets better every day -